So you think your cars is pretty economical because you once got 700kms out of a single tank, or pehaps 900kms if your were running on diesel. It’s not time to be patting yourself on the back just yet because a Volkswagen has just smashed the world record for distance covered on a single tank of diesel.

A team from the UK’s Sunday Times set off from Kent, England with a VW Passat BlueMotion and a full tank of diesel — then drove to the south of France and back again.

Averaging around 73kph, the team managed to travel a staggering 2,457 kilometers before it ran dry. The 1.6-litre TDI-equipped VW Passat BlueMotion used was a completely standard production model which features a lower ride height, Stop/Start tech, longer gearing and low rolling resistance tyres. As two witnesses drove behind them to verify the attempt for the Guinness Book of World Records, the Passat achieved around 2.61 l/100km economy — much higher than the officially quoted 3.66 l/100km rating.